Eastman strings 2007 viola
Q: I have a question about a new viola. Here goes...
A recently (August 2008)purchased 2007viola, from Eastman strings
(via a music shop) has begun to buzz after a new set of strings
were put on. I have checked for loose parts, seams, strings touching
the peg box to no avail! I swapped the old, non-buzzing C and the
results are the same. The loudest part of the buzz seems to come
from the f-hole under my left ear. Could it be interior problems?
Aaaack. The local luthier left town...
Really need some direction.
thanks,
Cjohn
A: Anything is possible, but buzzes actually coming
from inside the body are rare. A loose bass bar or an extremely
bad fitting sound post could do it, but first look for more obvious
(and easier to fix) things. Check to see if your bridge has been
bumped. If the bridge has been shifted toward the treble side, the
arch of the bridge will bring your C string in contact with the
finger board. The same type of slight shift can put your tail piece
in contact with your chin rest. Your chin rest could be loose. Your
fine tuners can buzz if they are backed all the way out. The joint
between the top and sides or the back and sides can be loose. The
fingerboard may need to be planed. You need to do less thinking
about what might be wrong and more staring at the viola. A good
trick is to have someone else play it and make it buzz. Then stare
and poke your finger around. To buzz, two vibrating parts must be
close enough together that they touch and untouch as vibrations
pass that point. A small disruption of the gap with your finger
will find your culprit.
Remember, your bridge is not
glued in place. It is held down by the string tension. It bends
toward the fingerboard as you tighten the strings. Depending on
the hardness of the finish it can slide more or less easily, side
to side and back and forth. At least once every month you should
get a good grip on it and move it back to where it belongs. It should
be centered between the inside notches on the F holes, and there
should be no gap between the bridge feet and the top.
If you find an open joint,
or, god forbid, a loose bass bar, the wise thing is to take it to
a pro. You only get one shot at regluing it properly. If you fail
the joint will never be the same.
Steve Mason
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